Friday, February 8, 2013

Morocco: Reflections...and a Kitchen

My interest in Morocco started when I was working at the Smithsonian Institution. Each day at lunch I'd quickly scarf down a sandwich, and then tour a particular museum gallery. On one outing, I discovered a world of Moroccan tilework rich with colors and complex geometric patterns not unlike a kaleidoscope. I subsequently learned these mosaic "zillij" tilework is used as ornamentation in Moroccan architecture and design.In 2002, Tom and I traveled to Morocco. We visited the four imperial cities of Fes, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat, as well as Casablanca. We toured ancient medinas, shopped the souks and even stayed in traditional Moroccan houses known as riads. Unassuming, plain and often windowless from the street, all the rooms typically open to an interior courtyard with a garden (and sometimes a water feature as well). Once inside a riad, a beautiful and private world reveals itself. Zillij tilework covers ceilings, walls, floors and even fountains.Morocco is like no other country. It is a feast for the all the senses!Enjoy these photos from my scrapbook, and excuse the quality as they have been scanned.

In Fes, we stayed at the charming La Maison Bleue, a tradition Moroccan riad.

104 comments:

Thank you and Thank You Lauren for sharing your charming kitchen.The table and chairs are so at home in the space....just perfect!Love the Moroccan tiles..Loi, you and Tom, had a wonderful trip. I learn so much from your posts.Thank you so much

Oh that kitchen ... I'm swooning. I love spaces that just have a good feeling. It is warm and lovely and you just know great food is coming out of there. As for Morroco, it is definitely on my must-see list. What gorgeous photos, jeans and all!

Lauren's kitchen is elegant and refined. Love your uniquely designed table and her beautiful tile. Have you seen the Moroccan courtyard that was built at the Met in NYC a few years ago by modern Moroccan crafstmen ? http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/arts/design/metropolitan-museums-moroccan-courtyard-takes-shape.html?pagewanted=all

You looked adorable in your baggy jeans!

Our daughter loves the Serena and Lily chairs, we have talked about them for her apartment someday. They add nice pattern and texture to Lauren's kitchen.

Brilliant interpretation of Morocco - Morocco with a Tone on Tone twist.We also loved Morocco and travelled to many places in a 4 x 4 over the Atlas mountains up and down the sand dunes in the Sahara and visited the vibrant cities. It is so difficult to believe that is only 3 hours from here!!!

I adore the Moroccans! I had a fantastic French intern working with me in my French classroom a couple of years ago, and she was a warm and brilliant young woman..what a year that was.

As a Spaniard, I am well acquainted with my Father's ancestry in Spain and how their designing sensibilities have been influenced by this time-tested and gorgeous cultural expression through art. This is fabulous.

I JUST LOVE seeing your photo! There you are...our dear Loi. You look GREAT! And to see your design of that table...my, my. As always, I gasp a bit when I see what you are featuring, whether it is your home or garden or recent finds. This kitchen is of superb quality and design and my next project is to paint ours white and gray. Now to get MR. Anita on board with that idea!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU again my friend for sharing BEAUTY with us. The world needs more of that! Anita

I can't tell you how much I love that kitchen! I have been a big fan of Moroccan tile and arches since an AD article in the 80s captured my imagination. I would love to have a range hood with a Moroccan arch. It adds the perfect amount of interest.

You knowledge, love and familiarity with Morocco shines through in this unique piece of furniture. How it fits so calmly in it's surroundings. The light and whole being of Morocco just seems to make all colours seem even brighter and more intense than in North America.

Thank you for sharing you images and you look great in the baggy jeans too, the fashion then

Lauren's kitchen is fabulous! Tyically I don't like a lot of pattern but I'm loving her tiles and how well everything works together. You really did a wonderful job Loi of mixing everything together seamlessly and that hood is nothing short of amazing!

One of THE most exquisite kitchens I have ever seen. Truly Loi. I love you in baggy jeans and apologizing for them.. too funny. That tile is out of this world and so it the custom table and light. Lauren must be in heaven. Great job!Have a great weekend.xo NancyPowellbrowerhome.com

Dear Loi, the art and architecture in Morocco are really inspiring and beautiful. Your friend's Moroccan inspired kitchen is so beautiful. The Moroccan tiles are exquisite. The French bistro chairs are my favourite. By the way, you look so stylish in your baggy pants. Have a good weekend.

Hello Loi:How beautifully you capture the sights, sounds and spices of Morocco which make it such an alluring and appealing country. The architecture and colourful tiles are so very redolent of this wonderfully exotic country, a land which captures the senses as well as the heart.

And, how imaginatively you have reinterpreted and reinvented North Africa into this kitchen. Every modern convenience and yet rooted in the traditional. It makes for a warmly welcoming environment with much to excite the eye and capture the imagination. Lovely!

i bow down to you. lauren's kitchen is a symphony of timeless swoon! love the unexpected harmony of france (and scandinavia) with the moroccan melody. the tile...oh my. what beauty. what a kaleidoscopic backdrop for memories born in this home. the table you designed is so special and sophisticated. i am not yer well-traveled friend so haven't seen casablanca-land but heard the king there outlawed baggy jeans in 2003 so thank GOD you were safe.

thank you for sharing this space and your life. lovely lovely are both.

what? no roosters? haha! just kidding. LOVE the tile. LOVE the accessories-- gorgeous, like the perfect complimentary jewelry. LOVE the hood. Not too large and a lovely reference to the Moorish arch. And finally, LOVE that chair from Serena and Lily. I put it up on Fakebook when I first saw it because its something like a 100 bucks (!)("how dey do do dat?" is what I said.) and looks just like the ones at ten times the price!

i particularly love the nod to moroccan design versus the commonly seen full-on "themed" elements. of particular interest is the table versus island configuration, much more in keeping to an original moroccan kitchen.

as an aside we were in morocco once, i found it to be a deeply emotional county eliciting awe, despair, fear (chased in a medina by 2 teenagers with a knife screaming american!!) stunning beauty, historical awe and sadness.......fascinating!

I really like how this posting comes full circle. Your table design is exceptionally handsome, and I realize with each posting what a Renaissance man you are! Lauren's kitchen is warm and I can imagine that it will be a favorite gathering spot for family and friends. Sustained applause to her for picking such an imaginative theme — no doubt in my mind that this was a fun collaboration!

Moroccan design, wow! what a beautiful kitchen. Well done Loi + Lauren. Yves Saint Laurent's are just breathtaking aren't they + The riads are such a wonderful surprise. Grand post. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

Loi, love the photos of your trip and seeing you ten years ago! Lauren's kitchen is so pretty - love her tiles and the table and chairs, the cabinetry, the light fixture. It is funny that you would post about this. I am usually such a "neutrals" person, but after a few days in bright Florida, I am so charged up by turquoise and all the blues and bright colours I saw. I even bought a turquoise t-shirt and flip flops for the trip and enjoyed the vibrant hues so much! So it was a coincidental surprise to hear you say you like all these bright colours and patterns too! So nice to get to visit Morocco. It is on my list...!

Hello Loi, That kitchen is a remarkable achievement. The Moroccan details give it interest and color, without competing with the calm and clean look that comes from the white woodwork and clean layout.

Loi,Might I be so bold to say I love your baggy jeans? I only know you through blogs, but in this photo you look so young and maybe you really are? But your knowledge, your talent, your gifts make you seem so much older than what you appear in this photo? It seems to me like you are one of the smartest people I've ever conversed with...I highly doubt this has anything to do with age...I'm guessing you are smart, and talented and well traveled whether 25 or 45...and I'm so glad you and Tom have each other...very lucky! I really look forward to meeting you one day!

Isn't it amazing how inspiration comes to us and something that spoke to our senses even years ago can still find a way to weave itself into our contemporary lives. Great example of this, Loi.You look too cute in your baggy jeans. :)You are so well traveled, no wonder you have such wonderful ideas. Thanks for the anniversary wishes, and right back at you my friend. Hasn't this been a wonderful adventure?xoTerri

I would never have thought you'd be fascinated by Morocco. Sweden, Finland, Norway yes; Morocco not so much. You continue to surprise me. Love the kitchen. The Moroccan tiles look so beautiful next to the simpler white paneling and cupboards, and the hood's a great choice. Kitchen seems a collaboration that really worked.Stay warm,b

What a lovely Moroccan inspired kitchen you designed for your friend Lauren. I love the tiles and that table...simply gorgeous! I have always wanted to go to Morocco, my parents lived there for several years when they were first married. I have some of the jewelry my mother purchased there, and I love looking at the pictures of them so young standing out in the orange groves. Maybe one day we will venture there for a holiday.

I loved getting to see the photos from your trip! This kitchen is very beautifully done. I'm not usually a fan of Moroccan, but the subtle way it's been done here is lovely. The table you designed is perfect.

Loi,Lauren's kitchen is lovely. I like the subtle color palate of the tiles she selected. The table you designed is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your vacation photos of Morocco. I've never been but my curiosity has been peeked...I have heard the food is wonderful.Karen

Loi,Your design aesthetic is multi-dimensional. While you personally love Scandinavian design, you can do Moroccan with aplomb! I love the Casablancan hood shape and the unique details on the table. I especially love the foot on the table leg, as well as the corners. The simple cabinets help the tiles take center stage. Well done!

Hi Loi, I have yet to visit Morocco, but it is high on my list. To visit Majorelle is a dream. I am fascinated by the design aesthetic, the rich colors, the warmth and history. It seems dreamy. The kitchen you designed is beautiful.xoxo,P

I am such a big Moroccophile! I have a moroccan tray table in my living room, we just got a line of samples for the simple glazed square moroccan tile as seen with Brooke Shields kitchen in NY. This kitchen you posted is beyond beautiful, the tile is stunning and the clean backdrop for it works effortlessly,what a wonderful post!!Always enjoy seeing what inspires you!xo Karolyn

Well where to begin Mr L. The kitchen is beautiful and I love the custom detailing on the table, you really are such a clever stick. One of the inhabitants of this house would have moroccan lanterns hanging from every concievable corner if allowed. Now about those jeans....

Dear Loi,Morocco - a place I would like to visit too. I shall have to have a word with AGA about that. I've read about those courtyard houses and how beautiful they are.The tiles in the kitchen really are lovely.Ahh yes baggy jeans - but didn't we feel so good when we wore them? ANd I am not sure why I liked it if they had the beginning of a hole in them too - these days I wouldn't be seen dead with a hole in my trousers; but back then . . .

What a treat for you to share your photos from your trip! The jeans weren't too bad! Loved all of the beautiful architecture! I'm loving everything about Lauren's kitchen! It's truly beautiful! The tiles are fabulous…they remind me a little bit of the ones we have around our pool but hers are a million times prettier! LOVE the table you designed! It's beautiful! I had just looked at those same chairs this morning! The whole thing turned out to be simply stunning! Hope you are doing well!

I absolutely love this post Loi! Great travel photos--thanks for sharing, baggy jeans and all! And love how you segued to Lauren's gorgeous kitchen! Morocco is definitely on my travel bucket list! My son-in-law was just there and can't say enough about it. Kiss your TT's for me!

Oh my goodness, dear Loi...where to begin...First of all , this is a gorgeous kitchen. Your table is stunning...love the warm wood...and these French chairs are a weakness for me...ha.Now...Morocco!! A fascinating, beautiful place...that photo of you is perfectly lovely, by the way! :)I have always been obsessed with the tile work, the colors, culture...spectacular...Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your trip...I hope to visit someday.And I LOVE the marbled album too! :)Have a marvelous week, kind and talented friend!xoxo,- Irina

Love her kitchen and the tile! The table you designed is gorgeous to! Love the details....they are perfect.....I passed up some chairs like hers for only $10.00 at an estate sale...I have been kicking my self for months! They would of looked great in my home.

I love this kitchen Loi! So pretty, oh my! The tiles are gorgeous and that elegant farm table...sigh. Currently obsessed with Moroccan patterns, so your post couldn't be more timely for moi! You rock the jeans BTW! You guys travel to the coolest places.Monica

How brilliant is this!!! I have always had a soft spot for Moroccan but had a hard time incorporating it. I can't get over how the tile pops against the the clean cabinets. I love how effortlessly you incorporated subtle Moroccan motifs!Thank you so much for opening my mind Loi!

I adore that kitchen. It is such a departure for you! I am anxious to hear how she likes her concrete sink over time. Love the table you designed...they look great with those Serena & Lilly Cafe chairs!

Loi, this kitchen is simply gorgeous, a perfect blend of influences with modern living. Thank you for bringing the far away just a little bit closer. I love to wear clothes influenced by places like Morocco-- makes me feel exotic. lol!

Your Tone on Tone touch is impressively evident here in this beautiful Moroccan inspired kitchen. The blues and gray in the tiles are both quiet and invigorating when splashed with that ochre, mustardy core. I am particularly in awe of your table design, which pays tribute to the unmistakable style of this magical, Mediterranean country. Thank you to you and Lauren for sharing and once again, inspiring.

Moroccan art and architecture really amaze me, it has unique and impressive designs especially their tiles, carpets, and a lot more. And that design of yours is simply amazing. It's simple yet elegant.

After all those comments, what could I say ? All kind of adjectives have benn used and all of them tell the truth.You have probably a multifaceted talent and me too , enjoyed so much this special post .This week, it's your birthday,so HAPPY birthday and wishes for even more trips!Love Olympia

Hi Loi,I love knowing you worked at the Smithsonian!!! And, I dream of going to Morocco! Your photos are stunning. Love how you were able to help your friend with her Moroccan inspired kitchen and bring it all full circle.

Love this post, tiles, history, and your love for this subject as well. Maybe you had a prior lifetime as a Moroccan? LOL (I know I have) I also love their design, rich history and even get goose bumps when looking at all they bring to the design world. Love the clothes, tiles, colors, food, etc. I love the table you've designed as well. Someday I will get there too...bucket list.

From reading the comments it's your birthday, Happy Birthday to you! Thank you so much for stopping by I really enjoyed your comment, love, love the table you designed and the tile is just beautiful...I can only dream!

How wonderful to see the inspiration of your travels and design aesthetic transformed into this remarkable kitchen. The chairs were an unexpected but perfect touch and the tiles reminiscent of the layers of pattern and color in Morocco. (Was happy to see the same grinder we have in our kitchen that my husband brought back home from Egypt.)

Hello Loi,HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope Tom is spoiling you! Beautiful tiles, really sets off the kitchen. We went the year after you and YSL's garden Marjorelle, still stays vividly in my mind, something quite special. Beautiful post!Best wishes,Ivan

Stunning! Your beautiful kitchen is making me dream of warm breezes and spicy tagines - perfect for a cold day like today with 18" of snow on the ground. Thank you for sharing your pictures and talend!

Gorgeous! I ejoyed your pictures of Morocco so much, the colors are amazing. I have not been recieving your post via email. I just discovered this today, when I got curious why you had not been posting, welllll, to my surprise you have been posting, I just had not recieved them in my email. Not sure why, but glad I found out so I am going to peruse the post I have missed,Kathysue

Hello. What a treat to find your blog on one of my 'faves' Velvet and Linen. You are a great designer. LOVE LOVE LOVE the kitchen farm table with the Moroccan detail on the corners. . . and love the table's color! My question is, could you tell me how the lovely tile connects with the other elements in the kitchen? What does it relate to in the rest of the kitchen? I love to learn from good designers, and hope you are able to send an answer. I'm still training my eye.

Thank you. (I just read a great story that takes place in Morocco and Spain: The Time In Between. So I'm into Morocco right now.)

I guess I'm really late to the party. I hope it's still going on. Not sure how I missed this post--just saw it on Lauren's Liess' bog--I think it was when I was sick. This kitchen is A.MAZ.ING, Loi. It's not something I ever would have expected from you and I'm completely enchanted. Every little detail is wonderful. Bravo!